V. I. Lenin

Direct-Line Conversation With Helsingfors

October 27 (November 9), 1917

Conversation:27 of October 1917First Published:1922 in the magazineProletarskaya RevolutsiaNo. 10. Published according to
      the telegraph tape.Source:Lenin’sCollected
      Works, Progress Publishers, Moscow, Volume 26, 1972,
      pp. 267-269, from the manuscript.Translated:Yuri Sdobnikov and George
      Hanna, Edited by George HannaTranscription & HTML Markup:Charles
      Farrell and David WaltersOnline Version:Lenin Internet ArchiveNovember,
      2000

Conversation With A. L. Sheinman, Chairman Of The Executive
    Committee Of The Helsingfors Soviet Of Deputies Of The Army, Navy
    And Workers Of Finland

Lenin:Are you authorised to speak on behalf of the
      Regional Army and Navy Committee?

Sheinman:Of course, I am.

Lenin:Can you move the greatest possible number of
      destroyers and other warships to Petrograd at once?

Sheinman:Let me call the
      Tsentrobalt[the Central Committee of the Baltic
	Fleet.--Ed.]Chairman,
      because this is a purely naval matter. What's new in Petrograd?

Lenin:There is a report that Kerensky's troops have
      moved up and have taken Gatchina, and since a part of the
      Petrograd troops are tired, it is imperative that we have the
      strongest reinforcements as soon as possible.

Sheinman:Anything else?

Lenin:Instead of the "anything else" I expected you to
      say you were ready to set out and fight.

Sheinman:That goes without saying: we have
      announced our decision and will, consequently, act up to it.

Lenin:Have you any stocks of rifles and machine-guns,
      and in what quantities?

Sheinman:Here is Mikhailov, Chairman of the
      Regional Committee's Military Department. He will tell you about
      the army in Finland.

Conversation With Mikhailov, Chairman Of The Military
      Department Of The Regional Committee Of The Army, Navy And Workers
      Op Finland

Mikhailov:How many men do you need?

Lenin:As many as possible, but only loyal men who are
      ready to fight. How many such men have you?

Mikhailov:All of 5,000. Those who will fight can be
      sent urgently.

Lenin:If sent with all possible dispatch, how many
      hours will it take them to reach Petrograd for sure?

Mikhailov:Twenty-four hours, from now, at the outside.

Lenin:By the overland route?

Mikhailov:By rail.

Lenin:Can you supply them with rations?

Mikhailov:Yes. There are plenty of rations. There are
      also about 35 machine-guns; we could also send a few field guns
      with their detachments without worsening the situation here.

Lenin:On behalf of the Government of the Republic I
      insistently request you to start such dispatch at once, and also
      to tell me whether you are aware of the formation of the new
      government, and how the news has been met by your Soviets?

Mikhailov:We heard about the government only from the
      papers. People over here are enthusiastic about power passing
      into the hands of the Soviets.

Lenin:So, you say, the troops will set out at once,
      and will be supplied with rations?

Mikhailov:That's right. We'll set about their dispatch
      right away and will supply them with rations. Here's the
      Tsentrobalt Deputy Chairman, because Dybenko himself went to
      Petrograd at 10.00 pin, today.

Conversation With N. F. Izmailov.
      Deputy Chairman Of Tsentrobalt

Lenin:How many destroyers and other warships can you send?

Izmailov:We can send the battleship Republic and
      two destroyers.

Lenin:Will they also be supplied with rations from your end?

Izmailov:Our fleet has enough rations, and they
      will be supplied. I want to say I am sure the Republic and all
      the destroyers we send will do their duty in defending the
      revolution. Have no doubt about the dispatch of the armed
      forces. This will be fulfilled without fail.

Lenin:In how many hours?

Izmailov:Eighteen, at the most. Is there any need to
      send them out now?

Lenin:Yes. The government is absolutely convinced that
      there is need for their immediate dispatch so that the
      battleship could enter the Ship Canal as close to the shore as
      possible.

Izmailov:The battleship is a large vessel with
      12-inch guns, and cannot anchor offshore: if it did it could be
      easily boarded and captured. This can be done by the destroyers,
      with their small-calibre guns and machine-guns; as for the
      battleship, it should be in the roads or close by, or near the
      cruiser Aurora, because its guns have a range of

      25 versts[25 versts= 16.5 miles.-Ed.];

      in
      short let the sailors and their command handle this.

Lenin:The destroyers must enter the Neva near the
      Rybatskoye village, in order to protect the Nikolayevskaya
      railway line and all the approaches to it.

Izmailov:Right, all this will be done. What else is there?

Lenin:Is there a wireless telegraph on the Republic
      and can it communicate with Petrograd while on its way?

Izmailov:Not only on the Republic, but also on
      the destroyers, they can all communicate with the Eiflel
      Tower. Let me assure you that everything will be done well.

Lenin:May we expect that the ships will set out immediately?

Izmailov:Yes, that is so. We shall issue urgent
      orders right away so that these ships will get to Petrograd in
      time.

Lenin:Have you stocks of rifles and ammunition? Let's
      have everything you can spare.

Izmailov:There are some on the ships, but we shall let
      you have everything there is.

Lenin:Good-bye. Good luck.

Izmailov:Good-bye. Was that you speaking? Will
      you tell me your name?

Lenin:Lenin.

Izmailov:Good-bye. We're setting everything in motion.